Page 49 of The Alpha's Lunar Crown

I think he gets the message because he makes no further effort to engage me in a conversation. "Goodnight, Aurora."My demeanor may be cold, but one of the reasons I returned to the city is to clear my head and give myself space to think away from his influence. That won't work if I spend long hours on the phone with him and let him take care of stuff."

I end the call and open the door to find Damon standing on the other side, hands in his pockets, an easy smile on his face. How did he know I was home?

"Damon," I said cautiously. "It's late."

"I know." He steps inside without waiting for an invitation. "But I needed to talk to you."

I shut the door and cross my arms. "About?"

His expression sobers. "Lucien."

I stiffen, wrapping my arm tighter around myself. "What about him?"

Damon sighs, running a hand through his hair. "Aurora, I know you think he's changed and that he regrets what he did to you. And maybe he does. But that doesn't change the fact that Blackwood is dangerous. You and Ronan being there—it puts you both at risk."

I frown. "Lucien would never let anything happen to us."

"Maybe not intentionally," Damon admits. "But there are forces at play bigger than him. Silver Pack, rival alphas—there are people who would use you to get to him. And you know what happens to people caught in the crossfire."

My stomach twists into horrible knots. He isn't wrong. The world of shifters is brutal, and alliances shift like the tide. But something about the way Damon spoke made me uneasy as if his concern ran deeper than just politics.

I study him, my eyes tracing the outline of his features. His hands are still buried in his pockets, his shoulders are tense, and his eyes are a bit shifty. "This isn't just about Blackwood, is it?"His jaw tightens, and his eyes shift, again. "No."The air between us thickens, and I know what is coming before he even says it."I care about you, Aurora." His voice is softer, less certain. "I always have."I exhale slowly, closing my eyes for a brief moment. "Damon—""Just hear me out," he cuts in, his breath coming out in shallow pants. "You deserve better than a man who let you walk away. Who let you suffer alone for years? I would never do that to you."

Pain twists in my chest. I know Damon means well, but he doesn't understand. Things have become a lot more complicated than they were before Blackwood.

Ronan is attached now. He has known Damon for a greater part of his life, but he never formed a bond like he did with Lucien, and I don't want to deprive him of that. Maybe it's not just Ronan I don't want to deprive of something.

"I can't, Damon," I say gently. "You're my friend, and I don't want to lose that."

His face darkened slightly. "I'll give you some time to think about it."

"I don't need to think about it, Damon. I don't want to give you hope."

"Well, I'm asking you to." His tone is sharp, causing me to wince a little.

"I'm sorry about that," he says in a softer tone. "I can't stomach the thought of you getting hurt again.""I understand, and I'm grateful to you for looking out for me, but I have to do this my way."He stares at me for a moment, a look I can't describe crossing his eyes before it's quickly replaced by a smile. "I understand."But I am not sure he does.

After Damon leaves, I stand in the living room, staring at nothing. My mind is a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions pulling me in different directions. Lucien. Damon. Blackwood. Ronan.

And then, as if the answer had been there all along, it came to me.

The Blackwood Pack had raised me and given me a home when I had none. The elders and the warriors, even the ones who had once doubted me—they had all played a role in shaping the person I have become. And despite everything, despite the pain and the betrayals, they had accepted Ronan without hesitation.

I couldn't just walk away from that.

I wouldn't.

Taking a deep breath, I reach for my phone and pull up Lucien's number. My finger hovers over the call button for a long moment before I finally press it.

He answered on the first ring. "Aurora?"

I close my eyes, gathering my resolve. "I want to help."

Silence. Then, carefully, he replies, "Help with what?"

"The pack," I say. "I want to help the pack."

Lucien exhales slowly, and when he speaks again, there is something almost reverent in his voice. "Aurora, I can't let you get involved in this."

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